Monday, March 10, 2014

Sheriff on Myra Lewis Case

Note that Gregory Lewis is speaking to media, off camera, but media is not reporting quotes, which leaves us to their interpretation. Bold Type is used for analysis and commentary on the article.

"We have kind of regrouped, we have come up with new leads, new strategies, and things that we're going to be looking at this week."

Madison County sheriff Randy Tucker says they're following any and all leads.

"I don't care what it is. If there's a possibility it's going to help find Myra, that's what I'm going to do." says Tucker

Sheriff Tucker was asked if the parents are the target of the investigation:

He avoided the "yes or no" question with this answer:

"I don't have any specific suspects at this time. We're still treating this as a missing child, we still need to find her."

Myra's father, Gregory Lewis tells us off camera, he and his wife, and other family members have taken polygraph tests.

We asked the sheriff about the results.

Note that they did not use a quote. Also, did they ask Gregory Lewis about the results? If they would give us the actual quotes of Gregory Lewis, much more information would be known.

"I'm not going to get into any investigative techniques that have taken place." says Tucker

He confirmed that polygraphs were administered.

Friday, authorities took an SUV from the family's home to see if there was a connection to Myra's disappearance.

"One of the scenarios is Myra may have been run over by the truck." Tucker tells us that is under investigation.

Note "the" truck, and not "a truck", which specifies which truck. Is this how Gregory Lewis did his own searching, for the timespan of at least 4 hours?

Myra's mother, Ericka Lewis was arrested last week on an unrelated probation violation. She is charged with being a felon in possession of a concealed weapon.

Sheriff Tucker says Lewis is on probation for welfare fraud.

Lewis' family questions the timing of her arrest.

"They should have waited because that even took their mind off Myra for a moment." says Martha Samders, Ericka Lewis' mother

Note that the family member recognizes the issue of timing.

Sheriff Tucker says the Department of Human Services became involved after Lewis was arrested.

This is standard protocol in the United States. When a child goes missing under adult care, the other children are considered in possible jeopardy due to neglect. This is why the public questioned DHHS lack of involvement in the case of Baby Ayla; specifically, given the evidence, how was it that the other two mothers in the home when Ayla went missing were able to retain custody of their children? Had those children been removed due to the lying of the two mothers, we may have had Ayla's plight given up.

Family members say Lewis' other children are in their care while she remains behind bars.

"They can pressure Erica, but she'll never give in. She'll never give in because she didn't do anything." says Sanders.

[snip]...Hawaii News Now has been in touch with Scott's mother, Kimberlyn, and older sister, Brooke.

"It is my wish that both Charli and her baby, Joshua, are given consideration. They both lost their lives and they both were very loved," said Brooke.

The family released the following statement:

It is with great sadness that we can confirm that the Scott family has been informed by the Maui police that the investigation into Charli's disappearance has been reclassified as a homicide investigation. Without disclosing details of the ongoing investigation we want to dispel rumors that Charli's body has been recovered. Sadly this is untrue. That said we feel strongly that evidence of this crime should be presented in court and not via rumors and shoddy news reporting. We would like to thank the Maui police for their thorough work thus far and encourage the public to cooperate with them in their search to bring Charli and her unborn son's killer to justice. Thank you and Mahalo for your thoughts and prayers. [end snip]

Assuming the family truly believes in her innocence, could the relative be using the words "give in" to mean "give in" to pressure to confess to something she didnt do? The assumption due to the timing of tge arrest would lead family members to believe blame is being cast on the Mom and it is very likely police will be interviewing/interrogating her and hoping she'll "give in" and "confess"?

"They should have waited because that even took their mind off Myra for a moment."

I read that sentence many times yesterday, and it wasn't until this morning that I realized what she must have meant. I don't know why, maybe just the odd syntax. I think her mother means the police should only be concentrating on finding Myra, not wasting time arresting Ericka for something unimportant (compared to finding Myra). It sounds like she is not willing to entertain even the thought that Myra's disappearance and Ericka's arrest are related.

Charlie Scott...According to the CDC,...One-quarter of women in the US are physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner sometime in their life....Violence from an intimate partner is the leading cause of injury to American women between the ages of 15 and 44. ...In the US, More than 300,000 women experience violence from their partner during pregnancy per year....Recent medical studies show a mother of a live birth is more likely to die a violent death (murder or suicide) than from all other diseases and birth complications combined.

I wanted to put some perspective on pregnancy and domestic violence. When a pregnant woman goes missing or is murdered, by these statistics alone LE should first investigate the partner.

I was mistaken. I listened to the full press conference again and here is the part on the vehicle.

Sheriff: I'm sure you guys hear the speculation on the street. One of the scenarios was that Myra had possibly been run over by that vehicle. It will be tested by technicians for the presence of anything. If not, it'll be returned. But, it's just another lead that we're following up on.

Reporter: and did they find any blood inside or outside that vehicle?

Sheriff: No, we did not.

Also, I couldn't catch exact quotes, but the digging was because he heard they did septic work last year.

Thanks Sus for the update. It sounds like they've pretty much ruled out her being hit by the SUV. In my opinion, they should find out exactly who 1st started the rumor (I had read one of the kids was saying it? However, it is doubtful the kid started the rumor). I'm thinking prob the father started it, as it would be unlikely the mother would start a rumor about herself.Logic tells me one parent is being truthful, one is being dishonest as there is no way BOTH truly thought she was with the other parent.

Is this why they were(are they still) digging up around the Lewis house, looking for Myra? I know parents usually place their own child victims close to home (like Caylee Anthony in the infamous woods), but I keep thinking how far one could go on an ATV in 30 minutes and back again for an hour total.

"One of the scenarios was that Myra was possibly run over by that vehicle. Obviously following my pledge to follow every lead, we impounded that vehicle. It is not charged with anything related to the child at this point," Tucker said."

Props to Jen Ow for pulling this theory based on SA out of family statements:) 3 things: he distances from the truck using "that", His use of "obviously" following my pledge to follow every lead, with the use of obviously, which is convincing language, made me wonder if he personally felt criticized in how he was handling the investigation?"at this point" leaves open the possibility that in the future it could be, maybe they are still testing the truck, certainly are still looking for evidence in other avenues.

"Myra's grandmother, Martha Sander, said her daughter's arrest was just bad timing and took investigators' attention off the search for Myra.

"I think they should have waited, considering she is a good mother," Sander said."

I am not sure what being a good mother has to do with not being arrested for a crime that you have committed that is weapon related? Following this reasoning if I am a good mother I could rob a bank but should not be arrested if I am a good mother? it is nonsensical.As this "good mother" comes from her mom I don't think it has the same exculpatory value as it would coming from Ericka herself. (Like CA,Deb from Kansas etc)

Still, there it is, another good mother with a lag in reporting, who has not called out for her missing child. I am not saying either parent was involved, that is for LE, but an all too familiar and tragic pattern is emerging.Where is Myra?

I don't think the vehicle is ruled out by that statement. The sheriff says it "will be tested by technicians", meaning it hasn't been yet. Then, "If not, it'll be returned." He's saying the vehicle has not been returned.

When the sheriff answers "we did not" it was in answer to his dept finding blood, not technicians finding anything.

There is a reason the sheriff is so "confident Myra is in this area". It must be that whoever they believed harmed and hid Myra did not leave this area.

Sus, thanks I didnt realize technicians were still testing it. I would just be curious to know who started the rumor. Outside community member or someone within the family? Just real strange about the unlocked guns too. Isnt that illegal to have kids around unlocked guns? How come the Dad not arrested? I hope they are testing the guns for fingerprinting (did any of the kids handle them or were they recently fired and if so, maybe they could tell w fingerprints who fired it if it was fired.

MADISON COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -The Madison Co. Sheriff's Office and the FBI will be hosting a press conference today, Monday March 10, in regards to the Myra Lewis investigation.

The press conference will be given by Special Agent in Charge Dan McMullen and Madison Co. Sheriff Randy Tucker at 3 pm at the Madison Co. Sheriff's Office.

Our reporter, Courtney Ann Jackson, is in the area where the toddler disappeared and she tells us that there is currently no active search going on at Mt. Pilgrim Road.

A press conference was also held Sunday. Many questions were asked and some were answered.

Myra went missing eight days ago.

She was last seen around 10 a.m. March 1, at her home on Mt. Pilgrim Road in Camden. She was last seen wearing a turquoise sweater with a bear on the front and khaki pants.

Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker said, "We branch out following leads through the surrounding community, I won't get into what those leads are but we feel confident that Myra is still in this area."

Tucker also said the case is progressing.

During the conference Sheriff Tucker commented on rumors that he himself had heard about little Myra being run over.Tucker said a brown SUV was taken from the Lewis home on Friday and the vehicle was processed, but there was no blood found.

Ericka Lewis, the mother of little Myra, was arrested Friday.

"You know it's unfortunate the timing of it, you know I won't get into too much detail with the arrest, but she is not charged with anything related to the child at this point," Tucker added.

According to the Madison County Detention Center website, Lewis was charged with felony carrying a concealed weapon.

The charge is in connection with a probation violation.

Lewis was convicted last year of welfare fraud. She remains in police custody.

Tucker said Lewis' arrest has nothing to do with Myra's disappearance, but the family isn't buying it.

Family members of little Myra were also in attendance looking for answers.

Our Annette Peagler spoke with Ericka Lewis' mother on Sunday and she said the family is upset about Lewis' arrest.

Lewis's mother is upset because of the speculation on social media (Facebook and Twitter) that suggests the parents have something to do with Myra's disappearance.

"My daughter loves her kids and she would never do anything to hurt them," Lewis' mother said.

The children have been removed by the Department of Human Services from the Lewis home.

If you have any information about Myra's disappearance you are asked to call the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

MADISON COUNTY - CAMDEN -UPDATE: March 10, 2014: A Madison County judge has set a bond of five thousand dollars for Ericka Lewis. She's the mother of the missing two-year-old Myra Lewis. Ericka appeared before a Justice Court judge Monday morning. Ericka is charged with possession of a weapon by a felon.

"I was leaving to go grocery shopping and I saw her walk back into the house with her sister,"

-The mother states she 'was leaving', which is not the same as saying she actually did leave.

-The mother places Myra outside when she 'was leaving'.

-She indicates tension by stating Myra's posture/position "walking back into the house".

-She shows distance between Myra and her sister by using the word 'with'.

-She self edits, stopping her sentence short of giving the conclusion. At the very least she should say, 'that's the last I saw her', or something similar. She withholds the most sensitive part of the story. The most significant detail is the last time she saw Myra.

-The fact that she withholds this information, indicates a need to withhold the conclusion of the event she was describing...the last time she saw Myra.

All of this along with the parents behavior, their LONG delay in reporting Myra missing, their claiming that their own untrained dogs tracked Myra to the road, their attempts to lead the investigation toward abduction while the initial searching was taking place under the assumption that Myra wandered off, and insistance that Myra was abducted while simultaneously stating that they won't worry about pressing charges, **(if a real abductor existed, he would be a danger not only to Myra, but every child. Their quickness to dismiss the idea of charges tells me that these parents know there is no abductor, as well as their failure to call out to Myra, or speak directly to her supposed abductor.)

Jen Ow, Your analysis of that sentence was very astute, and I must say you have me nearly convinced something happened to Myra before the Mom left for "grocery store", while watching her and her sister walk. In looking at that statement, do you feel there is any possibility Myra could have been shot by any of the kids/father/or mother? I just wonder if there is anything in this short statement that could suggest if Myra was run over by a vehicle or shot with a gun (in light if all the guns found)?

Oh...just wanted to add: When she says "saw" I feel like you might have hit the nail on the head bc this makes me think she could have been looking in a car mirror or through a window. But possibly could it come from the mouth of someone aiming a gun of what they "see". Either way "saw her walk with sister" I get tge feeling she was watching them closely, not just a quick glance to see them go inside but watching every step "walk". Just thoughts...could be wrong.

http://www.rankinledger.com/article/D0/20140310/NEWS/303100029/Tucker-Missing-toddler-s-mother-arrest-unfortunate-timingGregory Lewis was charged at one point with felony grand larceny, but Tucker said he took a pre-trial agreement and it is not reflected on his record anymore as a felony, so he was not arrested for the weapons in the home.

“The guns were in the residence in plain view. Part of an agreement when you plead guilty to a charge is that you cannot have a firearm or have knowledge of their whereabouts in your presence and we feel like she did at that time,” Tucker said.

Note that Ericka's mom says "'...there are no leads to her having anything to do with it.'" Her mom can't say she didn't do it. Also, isn't welfare fraud illegal?

“I look at that as it should be something that would be irrelevant considering the circumstances and what’s going on and as far as Myra, that’s like double hurt for us, because (the probation violation is) not a major thing. Ericka never had a record, not even a citation, her history does not have any kind of illegal nothing,” said Martha Sanders, Ericka Lewis’ mother. “She’s a good mother, there are no leads to her having anything to do with it. I think they should have waited. That even took their mind of Myra, so to speak, for a moment, maybe even for a minute.”

Not to defend this Mom, but which was it, was she carrying a firearm or were they left out in the open in the house?If left out in the open in the house, how can they be sure the father didn't leave them out? Just to give a hypothetical, what if the mother were sleeping, taking a shower, tending to the baby whatever and the Dad put them out? Or, maybe the mother was not doing any of these things but was aware the guns were put out, but still, the husband could have done it, and since he has a long history of DV charges, this speaks to a dynamic where even if the mother said, "put those guns away" he may very well have said "no" and she may not have been able to "overrule" him and get the guns put away.I just don't understand how the Dad can not be held in any way accountable for the guns being left out? It's very strange.And more and more, I believe it is a possibility one of the kids could have been shot and maybe he even got rid of the weapon on his ATV ride. It just seems very strange that the mother is being held fully responsible for the guns being left out. Were they even registered to her? If they were registered to the Dad and they were left out, it is actually mindblowing that LE is not considering whether this act was something the mother had little to no control over. If the father put them out, it is understandable that since it is a gun and not dirty laundry there would be an inherent intimidation factor in telling an abuser with a gun to put it away. Is anyone following me?

The father did leave them out, Lanah, but he is not a felon. It is the mother's responsibility as a felon to not be in the residence where there are guns. She has to reside somewhere else or he has to keep his hunting guns at another residence. That's the law once someone has a felony conviction.

Gregory Lewis wasn't arrested for the weapons charge because of his pre-trial agreement for the grand larceny-not the DV. Is it possible that the sheriff arrested her (at the time) to take her out a DV situation so she would talk about what might have happened?

TXTchr, That makes the most sense of anything I've heard.With the Mom's charges, I am legitimately confused. Was it bc she wss around the guns or bc she had a concealed weapon.As far as it being her responsibility not to reside in the house where there are guns, I kinda feel like that's easier said than done when there are 10 kids under her care, so I'm not willing to throw stones on that one.

Also, with the Mom's statement "I was leaving to go grocery shopping and I saw her walk back into the house with her sister"Here's what I think: The Mom had reason to be visually focused on Myra and her sister walking back into the house as she was leaving to go grocery shopping. I believe Jen's right. The Mom did not leave to go grocery shopping (although she may have left) or she would have phrased it "before I left to go grocery shopping.So, she had reason to be visually focused on the 2 kids walking back into the house.Jen's suggestion is one likely possibility (she backed over her with the car).Another suggestion is what if the father was aiming the gun at the mother, and mother's instinct sets in as she is attempting to evade him. She jumps in SUV and is looking to see where the 2 kids are. They are walking back in the house and Myra either gets accidentally shot as he's aiming at the mother or the father realizes he can't shoot the mother cause she has jumped into the car, turns and shoots Myra?All I know is statement analysis says A) the Mom was leaving to go grocery shopping but then did not2) She was visually focused on the 2 kids, how fast they were moving (they were "walking") and where they were headed (inside the house).

I'm not saying the gun laws are fair or correct. They are what they are.

The definition of a felon who may not possess or be in the vicinity of a firearm is that they are sentenced to one year or more for a crime. They may not serve that sentence, they may receive probation as evidently Ericka Lewis did.

Gregory Lewis has a record, also, but obviously he has never been sentenced to a year's jail time. Sheriff Tucker said Gregory Lewis had a pre-trial agreement on at least some of his charges...that means he wasn't sentenced to at least one year and he may have guns.

I hope that helps explain. It probably just means Gregory Lewis had a pretty good attorney.

To me this is interesting...Ericka Lewis was placed on probation for welfare fraud last year. The warrent on the firearms IN THE HOME was written for January 24 of this year. Why were the police at their home before Myra's disappearance?

Sus good catch. That is very odd about the police being there before the disappearance. Combine that oddity with them putting off the arrest for this long. Very strange. Unless maybe a DV call but they didn't arrest. Wonder what the police report says.

This explains more about why Gregory Lewis wasn't charged with a weapons violation.

http://www.rankinledger.com/article/D0/20140310/NEWS/303100037/FBI-20K-reward-offered-locate-missing-Madison-Co-toddlerGregory Lewis was charged at one point with felony grand larceny, but Tucker said he took a pre-trial agreement, and it is not reflected on his record anymore as a felony, so he was not arrested for the weapons in the home.

Do you know where Myra is, or what happened to her?" asks reporter, Perrise Thomas

"No, I do not. I don't have any idea or the whereabouts of where my daughter is at this time." says Lewis

Besides the more obvious "I have no idea" which is considered sensitive, he doesn't answer the question about if he knows what happened to Myra, only that he does not know her whereabouts "at this time".

“Gregory Lewis said 'I've never been in a situation that I couldn't control. This is the first one and I really don't know how to deal with it.'"

That's a tricky statement (for me). He didn't specify exactly what situation he's unable to control, so he could be referring to Myra's disappearance or he could be referring to getting caught up in someone else's crime, or even a situation he caused.

But wouldn't it be expected that the father of a missing child might feel helpless/ out of control? I sure would, and “control” would probably be a word I'd use. He might even be feeling as “head of the household,” he's let his family down.

Putting it in context with his other statements during that interview:

….

"Do you know where Myra is, or what happened to her?" asks reporter, Perrise Thomas

"No, I do not. I don't have any idea or the whereabouts of where my daughter is at this time." says Lewis

"I've never been in a situation that I couldn't control. This is the first one and I really don't know how to deal with it."

Lewis says he feels his wife's arrest has affected the search for little Myra.

"In my opinion, it got in the way of what the actual reason for being there was. They were there to help to find my daughter an everything got twisted." says Lewis

"They're focusing on my family. They're just focusing on us and I'm just feeling that the search for my daughter is not going on like it should." says Lewis

"All is ask is that, they return her home safe."

….

I'm just not good enough at SA to come to any conclusions without more statements/info. He's using pronouns but says “daughter” instead of “Myra” all three times he refers to her.

He says he has no idea where Myra is – Peter says people usually do have ideas – and he doesn't answer what he thinks happened to her, but the reporter posed a compound question. Argh! I'm going to do the smart thing and leave it to y'all :)

"Do you know where Myra is, or what happened to her?" asks reporter, Perrise Thomas

"No, I do not. I don't have any idea or the whereabouts of where my daughter is at this time." says Lewis

It sounds like he answers the first question last and the last question first. If so, this is a perfect example of when Peter points out how people usually have "some" idea of what happened. In fact, he has been pushing an abduction scenario from day one. So according to them, Myra is abducted and is in someone else's hands. (Their words)

Not accusing anyone of anything here, just trying to solve the puzzle "What happened to Myra?".

"You know it's unfortunate the timing of it, you know I won't get into too much detail with the arrest, but she is not charged with anything related to the child at this point," Tucker added.

According to the Madison County Detention Center website, Lewis was charged with felony carrying a concealed weapon.

Speaking of the timing of Ericka Lewis' arrest, Sheriff Tucker said "...but she in not charged with anything related to the child at this point."

Thinking this through, he also said "You know it's unfortunate the timing of it, you know I won't get into too much detail with the arrest...". Why would he need to go into much detail with the arrest, if she was simply a felon arrested for concealed carry? It happens in communities nationwide every day. The gun arrest seems sensitive to Sheriff Tucker. Maybe the "details" relate to how they found out Ericka was carrying concealed.

My question is why was she carrying a concealed weapon? To protect herself from Mr. Domestic Violence that she's married to? Is it possible that she & he were involved in some sort of argument/altercation when Myra was sent "back into the house" with her sister? Is that maybe what brought Myra out of the house? Note,Ericka does NOT say the sister was sent "back" into the house-only Myra? Was the sister already outside, before Myra? Or did she come out after Myra did? Did she come out to get Myra and take her "back" into the house? Did Ericka call for the sister to come get Myra? Why was Myra outside at all? What was her demeanor (crying, afraid, hysterical, clingy, etc.)? Where was Gregory Lewis when Ericka was outside? When the sister was outside? When Myra was outside?

Was there an argument prior to Ericka going to the store? Was there an argument outside? How far are they from the store? Did Ericka go to multiple stores? I assume LE has checked receipts, store, parking lot surveillance cameras, traffic cams, etc. I wonder what she bought that she was gone so long. Was she giving Gregory time to dispose of Myra? Was he giving her time to dispose of Myra?

I wonder if Ericka & Gregory were in the midst of a domestic violence situation. Stretching here probably but...If she, carrying a concealed weapon, she may have pointed it at Gregory and accidentally fired it, hitting Myra. She could have fired a warning shot and it hit/ricocheted and hit Myra. A struggle for the gun, with an accidental discharge is another scenario. There would likely be reports of shots fired.

So why are the gun arrest details sensitive? Was Ericka threatening Gregory with the gun because she didn't believe his version of events? Was he threatening her in some way?

Do you know where Myra is, or what happened to her?" asks reporter, Perrise Thomas

"No, I do not. I don't have any idea or the whereabouts of where my daughter is at this time." says Lewis

-----The "at this time" part freaks me out. Extra words, and the sentence would be fine without them = sensitive.

He doesn't know the whereabouts of Myra at this time... But has he known her whereabouts at any other time since she went missing? Has he had any ideas on where she is since she went missing?

My first thought when reading "at this time" was that Myra was used as a fair trade in some sort of transaction. Did they sell/trade her for drug money? To settle an old score? For just some extra money? He would have had an idea of where she was/what happened to her when this transaction was made...but now it has been long enough that she could be anywhere.